Admittedly, for most of us, Cersei Lannister isn’t the easiest character to relate to on “Game of Thrones.” There’s the whole dark and twisty conniving thing, the cover-your-eyes-uncomfortable incest with her brother thing, the ruthless mass-murdering thing…I could go on. But I tell you what, if there’s one thing I appreciate about that woman it’s her unabashed love of red wine.
And so, with the debut of the final season of the iconic show upon us (April 14th! It’s just around the corner! Finally!), we thought it would be fun to celebrate Cersei’s love of the good juice with a round-up of red wines (and one white) that perfectly fit her personality.
Cabernet Sauvignon
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In the world of wine, cabernet sauvignon is a symbol of power, money, and status. Top bottlings from its two major growing regions—Bordeaux, France, and California’s Napa Valley—are among the most lauded and sought-after red wines in the world, and which, not to mention, command prices that might require a loan from the Iron Bank. Full-bodied, dry, and rich with flavors of dark red and black fruit, tobacco, spice, and dried herbs, cabernet sauvignon is a boss in the red wine category. Its personality is bold, dominant (if not at times a touch overbearing), seductive, and commanding. How could Cersei not have pitchers of the stuff at the ready?
Nebbiolo
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Aside from the fact that this grape is responsible for the prized, undeniably regal-status red wines of Piedmont in northwestern Italy, it’s a fitting choice for Cersei because it is, above all else, incredibly bitter. It produces wines that are very tannic (aka astringent), especially when they’re young, gripping your palate and gums without any sign of remorse. These are cerebral wines, not quite as obvious or easy to like, but rewarding of those who are patient, getting more interesting, layered, and complex with time (much like our girl Cersei).
Mourvèdre
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Frequently paired with ripe, juicy Grenache and meaty, pepper-spicey syrah in blends, mourvèdre is the grape that adds muscle and dark force to the group. It gets high marks for body, alcohol, and tannin, producing wines that are broody and powerful. Think blackberry, currant, and plum mixed with the flavor of game meat, tobacco, soil, and herbs. It’s fierce, especially when made as a single-varietal wine, the most famous of which come from Bandol in southwestern France. (Side note: The mourvèdre-based rosés from the region are also fantastic and intensely dry for rosé. Who knows, perhaps something Cersei would have enjoyed before winter came?)
Pinotage
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South Africa’s signature red grape, pinotage makes what you might call an abrasive, love-or-hate-it kind of wine. High in alcohol and body, it smacks you with flavors of red and black berries, campfire smoke, roasted meat, licorice, and steely cool herbs like mint and eucalyptus. The best examples of the style deserve to be savored, for sure, but it’s worth noting that like Cersei, it can also be quite volatile. If not made well, the wine is known to give off unpleasant notes of burnt tar and nailpolish remover.
Zinfandel
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An iconic red grape of north and central California, Zinfandel is known for making medium-bodied wines with lush red and black fruit flavors, smooth tannins, and hints of tobacco, smoke, and spice. Cersei’s a fan because, one, the wines the typically quite boozy (and evil though she may be, the woman’s definitely been through enough to have earned a good strong drink); and two, it’s a great red for barbecues. So, you know, something fitting to sip on as you watch the Great Sept of Baelor go up in flames.
Negroamaro
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What better grape to represent Cersei Lannister than this Italian varietal, whose name literally translates to “black bitter”? Native to Puglia, the southeastern region that sits at the heel of Italy’s “boot,” the lesser-known negroamaro makes a dark-fruited, earthy, full-bodied red with a firm tannic structure and notes of black licorice and smoke.
Albariño
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Ok, so, Cersei doesn’t seem to have ever been a white wine gal, but if I had to pick one to represent her it would definitely be albariño. The signature white variety of Rias Baixas, the region on Spain’s northwestern coast, it produces easy-drinking, fiercely high-acid dry whites with a distinctively salty edge. And in “Game of Thrones,” no one is saltier—and gulps down wine more easily—than Cersei Lannister.
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